The top court noted that the high court has enough powers to dispense justice under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.
In a setback for former Mumbai Police Commissioner Param Bir Singh, the Supreme Court bench refused to hear his plea seeking probe against Maharashtra Home Minister Anil Deshmukh for alleged malpractices and extortion.
While observing that the former Mumbai Police Commissioner's allegations levelled against Maharashtra home minister were grave, the Apex Court asked the former Mumbai Police chief to approach the high court first.
Param Bir Singh had alleged that Anil Deshmukh interfered in investigations and directed police officers to change the probe's course.
The top court noted that the high court has enough powers to dispense justice under Article 226 of the Indian Constitution.
The petition says: 'Each such act of Anil Deshmukh in abuse of the official position of the Home Minister, whether in calling and directly instructing the police officers of lower rank such as Sachin Vaze or Sanjay Patil for his malicious intent of extorting money from establishments across Mumbai and from other sources, or whether in interfering in the investigations and directing the same to be conducted in a particular manner, or whether indulging in corrupt malpractices in posting/transfers of officers, cannot be countenanced or justified in any democratic State. Fair CBI investigation is thus warranted in each of such acts of Shri Anil Deshmukh in abuse of the Home Minister's official position.'
Param Bir Singh had also sought quashing of the order transferring him from the police commissioner's post.
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